Unlocking Random Poly(ether-ester-carbonate) Polyols with Ultralow Molecular Weight
Can Liao1,2, Shunjie Liu1,2, Baoxin Zhang1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin 130022, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The development of high-performance polyurethanes (PUs) is intrinsically connected to the molecular structure of polyol precursors. However, single-structure polyols, such as polyester polyols and polyether polyols, exhibit limited potential for broadly regulating PU properties. Herein, we engineered random poly(ether-ester-carbonate) polyols with tailored compositions via telomerization of anhydride/epoxide/CO2 enabled by a robust supported aluminum porphyrin catalyst. Ultralow molecular weight polyols (0.8 kg/mol) with narrow dispersity (Đ = 1.08) were easily obtained due to the catalyst's extraordinary proton tolerance. Additionally, our supported catalyst produced near-white products while maintaining recyclability for at least three cycles. Our work provides a versatile platform for designing next-generation PU precursors.
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